TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011

DARK HORSE COMICS FOR APRIL

AL CAPP'S COMPLETE SHMOO VOLUME 2: THE NEWSPAPER STRIPS

Written and art by Al Capp Studios.

First appearing in Al Capp's Li'l Abner comic strip in August 1948, the oddly shaped (and happily edible) Shmoo creature became an overnight phenomenon, spawning an unprecedented merchandising frenzy in the late forties and fifties. As part of the Dark Horse Archives series, ALL Shmoo newspaper strip appearances and storylines are being collected for the first time ever in a deluxe, oversized hardcover! In addition to every weekly and Sunday Shmoo newspaper appearance from 1948 to 1976, this collection also features rare Al Capp photographs and Shmoo illustrations, a look at some Shmoo-centric products from its marketing heyday, a brand-new Shmoo wraparound cover by renowned illustrator Pete Poplaski, as well as an introduction and story annotations by certified Shmoo-ologist Denis Kitchen!

188 pages, $49.99, in stores on June 15.

ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: THREE WORLD WAR

Written by Randy Stradley, penciled by Rick Leonardi, inked by Mark Pennington, colored by Wes Dzioba, cover by Raymond Swanland.

A long-lost Predator clan stakes its claim for galactic dominance, intent on exterminating its rival clan, the self-same trophy hunters who have plagued Earth's history. And if the advanced technology and military precision of this new threat weren't enough, they have an even more terrifying weapon -- a horde of Aliens under their malefic control. Earthmen must now side with the warriors who have relentlessly hunted them, but is the enemy of my enemy my friend or just another enemy waiting for its turn to strike? Collects issues #1-6 of the miniseries.

144 pages, $19.99, in stores on June 29.

AXE COP: BAD GUY EARTH #2

Written by Malachai Nicolle, art and cover by Ethan Nicolle.

Axe Cop isn't an ordinary cop! He's the best crime-fighter the world has ever known, thanks to his amazing team of partners -- Dinosaur Soldier, Sockarang, and his pet T. Rex, Wexter! But right now, Axe Cop is in trouble on a distant world full of dinosaurs. If he can't make it back to Earth before a team of invading bad guys strikes, we might soon be living on bad guy Earth!

Full of hilarious characters unlike any you've ever seen, and exploding with insane adventures like interplanetary warfare and time-travel! Written by a six-year-old and drawn by his 30-year-old brother!

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 6.

B.P.R.D.: THE DEAD REMEMBERED #1

Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie, penciled by Karl Moline, inked by Andy Owens, colored by Dave Stewart, covers by Moline and Jo Chen.

Three years after accidently burning her family alive, 14-year-old firestarter Liz Sherman travels with Professor Broom to investigate a small New England town, where a terrible witch hunt occurred and a ghost plagues a priest's house.

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 6.

BALTIMORE VOLUME 1: THE PLAGUE SHIPS

Written by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, art by Ben Stenbeck, colored by Dave Stewart, cover by Mignola.

After a devastating plague ends World War I, Europe is suddenly flooded with vampires. Lord Henry Baltimore, a soldier determined to wipe out the monsters, fights his way through bloody battlefields, ruined plague ships, exploding zeppelins, and submarine graveyards, on the hunt for the creature who's become his obsession. This hardcover collects issues #1-#5 of the miniseries and features an extensive sketchbook section.

The season finale is here! At long last, the Big Bad stands revealed -- Angel is back, and it's tearing the Scoobies apart, testing the limits of their friendship. But Twilight's unmasking is only the beginning, and Buffy must still face the ultimate betrayal.

Series creator Joss Whedon writes the final story arc of Buffy Season 8, taking his greatest characters to places only he can! Teamed with series artist Georges Jeanty, Joss reunites the dysfunctional gang of Buffy, Angel, and Spike, in the thick of it together for the first time since Season 3, and gives the Scoobies their gravest challenge ever, defending reality itself from the onslaught of demons. It's the biggest Buffy finale ever!

Collects Buffy Season 8 #36–#40. This volume also includes the spy-thriller Riley one-shot by Buffy series writer Jane Espenson and artist Karl Moline.

THE CHRONICLES OF KING CONAN VOLUME 2

Written by Roy Thomas and Doug Moench, penciled by John Buscema and Ernie Chan.

The most mighty monarch of all time is back! King Conan returns in The Chronicles of King Conan! The adventures of Conan and his family, continue in "Vengeance from the Desert," "A Clash of Kings," "A Queen Reclaimed," "Bones of the Brown Man," and "The Fang of Set!"

The Chronicles of King Conan Volume 2 collects issues #6-#10 of the early eighties series originally published by Marvel.

192 pages, $18.99, in stores on June 8.

CITIZEN REX

Written by Mario Hernandez and Gilbert Hernandez, art and cover by Gilbert Hernandez.

A bizarre, sexy look into the future! When gossip blogger Sergio Bauntin investigates the illusive robot celebrity CTZ-RX-1, he provokes the city's shady power players, who don't want the story to get out! It's a surreal sci-fi adventure as only Los Bros. Hernandez can do it!

This handsome hardcover collection also features new cover art by Gilbert, an extensive sketchbook section with behind-the-scenes material from Mario, and a special pin-up from third Hernandez brother Jaime! Collects Citizen Rex #1–#6.

144 pages, black and white, $19.99, in stores on June 29.

CONAN: THE FRAZETTA COVER SERIES #7

Written by Timothy Truman, penciled by Tomas Giorello, colored by Jose Villarrubia, cover by Frank Frazetta.

Adapting Robert E. Howard's powerful "Black Colossus" short story. Conan joins a roving army of mercenaries and sets off on what will be one of his bloodiest battles ever, when the human forces of Amalric clash with the demonic hordes of Natohk over the fate of a besieged city! This seventh issue in the Conan: The Frazetta Cover Series run features Frazetta's iconic Conan painting "Sacrifice" -- which is one of the few Frazetta paintings to directly depict a scene from one of Howard's stories. Ride alongside the Cimmerian as he battles through hordes of bloodthirsty enemies to save a beautiful princess from an evil wizard. Collects Conan the Cimmerian issues #11-#13!

72 pages, $6.99, in stores on April 6.

CONAN: THE ROAD OF KINGS #5

Written by Roy Thomas, penciled by Mike Hawthorne, inked by John Lucas, cover by Doug Wheatley.

Conan has been in trouble before, but never like this! It may just be the end of the line for everyone's favorite barbarian! Join Conan as he braves Ophir's golden court as he tries to save Olivia from the power of the mystic ring known as the Star of Khorala. Conan will need both luck and skill if he's to escape the axe of Ophir's savage executioner! Don't miss out on chapter five of Conan's journey on The Road of Kings.

The legendary, premiere anthology is back! The 80-page spectacular, Dark Horse Presents returns with all-new stories by Neal Adams, Howard Chaykin, and Richard Corben; a new Concrete story by Paul Chadwick, a new Crimson Empire story from the Star Wars universe, and an exclusive sneak peek of Frank Miller's highly-anticipated prequel to 300, Xerxes!

The celebration continues with a brand-new, all-color Finder story by Carla Speed McNeil, a prose piece from science fiction legend Harlan Ellison, the return of Michael T. Gilbert's Mr. Monster, and much, much more!

After revolutionizing the worlds of design and storytelling in 1984, Dean Motter's Mister X returned half a decade later to reinvent alternative comics again for a whole new audience. Returning to the story of Radiant City's mysterious architect and his sleepless quest to repair the flaw in its design that is driving its citizens mad, the second version of Motter's creation used the black-and-white format to introduce deeper shadows and more expressionistic angles to its Art Deco world. With an edgier look and starker themes, this take on Mister X is as groundbreaking today as it was twenty years ago.

Based on the characters from Domo TV shorts on Japan's NHK network, this 3-piece PVC figure set features Domo and his friends Mr. Usaji the wise old rabbit, and Tashanna, the young lady weasel. Domo stands at 4" tall while his friends stand at 3.5". Packaged in a deluxe full color window box.

3-piece figure set,
$17.99, in stores on June 15.

THE GOON VOLUME 1: NOTHIN' BUT MISERY 2ND EDITION

Written and art by Eric Powell.

Re-presenting the beginning of Eric Powell's Goon saga, in a new edition with a brand-new cover and design! The nameless man, the Zombie Priest, has come to town to build a gang from the undead. But even the undead fear the Goon, mob enforcer and protector of the downtrodden residents of Lonely Street. With Powell's stunning artwork, The Goon's unique mash-up of horror, mob intrigue, and the sickest sense of humor in comics is an instant classic, and this new edition is the best time ever to find out what you've been missing!

144 pages, $16.99, in stores on June 8.

HELLBOY: BUSTER OAKLEY GETS HIS WISH

Written by Mike Mignola, art by Kevin Nowlan, colored by Dave Stewart, covers by Nowlan and Mignola.

Sucked into a giant spacecraft full of mutated livestock, Hellboy must fight his way through giant robots, strange webbing, and evil aliens to get back to terra firma!

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 13.

KING CONAN: THE SCARLET CITADEL #3

Written by Timothy Truman, penciled by Tomás Giorello, colored by Jose Villarrubia, cover by Darick Robertson.

Conan goes against his ingrained barbarian instincts and sides with a strange wizard in order to topple those who ensnared them both in the horrific dungeons beneath the Scarlet Citadel! Timothy Truman, Tomás Giorello, and José Villarrubia -- the monthly team behind the critically acclaimed Conan the Cimmerian comic-book run -- move ahead many years in the barbarian's life to a time when Conan has just lost the crown of Aquilonia and must fight to reclaim it from several betrayers and their evil wizard!

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 27.

MAGNUS, ROBOT FIGHTER #7

Written by Jim Shooter, art by Stephen Thompson and Jesse Delperdang, colored by Wes Dzioba, cover by Raymond Swanland.

The year is 4000 CE. The military is useless. The police are incompetent. Magnus, the mighty Robot Fighter, stands alone against an army of rebel Q-ROBs led by clever, canny, capable Jocko and his hench-robs. It's a battle to extinction -- one-way or the other. And in this issue's second feature, the origin saga of 1-A, the first Robot Fighter, continues. The year is 3979 CE. Rebel Q-Robs led by H-8 overwhelm North Am. Then 1-A in Battle Armor takes the field . . .

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 27.

MAGNUS, ROBOT FIGHTER VOLUME 1

Written by Jim Shooter, art by Bill Reinhold, colored by Wes Dzioba, cover by Raymond Swanland.

The continent-spanning city of North Am is a miracle of ingenuity and ambition, a technological paradise where mile-high skyscrapers pierce the clouds and robots perform virtually all labor. But in the shadows of the "milespires," human mobsters use robot muscle to terrorize the North Am citizenry. Human trafficking, illegal psychoactive substances, violent crime, and corrosive corruption are suddenly epidemic in the glittering utopia, with only Magnus, the mighty Robot Fighter, to stand against them. Collects issues #1-#4 of the ongoing series and the 2010 Free Comic Book Day story.

104 pages, $15.99, in stores on June 22.

MASS EFFECT: EVOLUTION #4

Written by Mac Walters and John Jackson Miller, art by Omar Francia, colored by Michael Atiyeh, covers by Massimo Carnevale and Joe Quinones.

Mass Effect 2 lead writer Mac Walters brings the origin of the Illusive Man to its explosive conclusion! The fate of mankind may come down to this moment, as the newly enlightened Illusive Man launches a movement that will upset the balance of power across the galaxy. But will he prove to be the universe's savior -- or its destroyer? This story will have a long-lasting impact on the Mass Effect saga, and is essential reading for fans of sci-fi action and intrigue!

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 20.

MIGHTY SAMSON #3

Written by Jim Shooter and Jeff Vaughn, art by Patrick Olliffe, colored by Dan Jackson, cover by Raymond Swanland.

500 years after the end of the world, barbaric hordes vie for power and plunder, and monstrous, gene-twisted Teratisms stalk the ruined landscape. Queen Terra of the marauding Jerz acquires a new and deadly weapon powerful enough to shatter massive walls. From the north, Warlord Sunder marches with a fearsome host behind Dreadnought, a gargantuan, invincible Teratism over which he has gained control. Caught in the middle is Samson, the strongest man on Earth, sole protector of the struggling N'yark Tribe. At stake is the future of the world!

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 20.

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: CAMPUS APOCALYPSE VOLUME 4

By Mingming.

Shinji Ikari remembers having met the charming, mysterious Kaworu during childhood. But that's not all–Kaworu has more shocking truths to share about Shinji's own father, Gendo! Shinji and Kaworu, along with their friends Asuka and Rei, must do battle to put an end to Gendo's crazed rampage! Can four teenagers put a stop to the destruction of the Y'ggdrasil, the Life-Tree, the pillar sustaining our dimension and reality? The ultimate fight is on!

160 pages, black and white, $10.99, in stores on June 22.

OH MY GODDESS! VOLUME 18

Written and art by Kosuke Fujishima.

Ever since a cosmic phone call brought the literal young goddess Belldandy into college student Keiichi's residence, his personal life has been turned upside-down, sideways, and sometimes even into strange dimensions!

Who would have ever thought one of Skuld's inventions could go wrong? Er . . . don't answer that, but her tinkering with the time-space continuum has left Belldandy and Keiichi trapped inside their own living room . . . because it's now infinitely big! And uncanny events await them outside as well, as a ghost haunts the mountain pass between the two campuses of N.I.T. . . causing Bell and K1 to do a night ride in tandem to solve the mystery!

232 pages, black and white, $11.99, in stores on June 29.

SOLOMON KANE: RED SHADOWS #1

Written by Bruce Jones, penciled by Rahsan Ekedal, colored by Dan Jackson and Dave Stewart, covers by Guy Davis and Gregory Manchess.
This first issue adapts Robert E. Howard's taut, disturbing "Skulls in the Stars" short story! Beginning his adventures in England, Kane finds himself engaged in a supernatural battle on the dreary moor road to Torkertown.

40 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 6.

STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE LOST COMMAND #4

Written by Haden Blackman, penciled by Rick Leonardi, inked by Dan Green, colored by Wes Dzioba, cover by Tsuneo Sanda.

An attempt on his life leaves Vader and a handful of loyal troops trapped on a desolate world. Despite the deadly perils posed by the environment and attacks from his mysterious enemy, Vader will not veer from his duty. But what if the reason for his mission is negated? And what do these visions of Padme mean to Vader's future?

40 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 27.

STAR WARS: LEGACY -- WAR #5

Written by John Ostrander, penciled by Jan Duursema, inked by Dan Parsons, colored by Brad Anderson, cover by Duursema.

In the aftermath of the latest battle, the Jedi, the Galactic Alliance, and Roan Fel's Imperials retreat to the stronghold planet Bastion to lick their wounds. In the face of the Sith Empire's new secret weapon, there are some who counsel that resistance is futile.

But the Sith have suffered, too, and Emperor Fel knows that now is the time to attack. Plans are made and plans within plans. For Cade Skywalker knows that this war must ultimately come down to him versus Darth Krayt. No matter what the cost, Krayt must die!

40 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 27.

THE STRANGE CASE OF MR. HYDE #1

Written by Cole Hadden, art by M.S. Corley, colored by Jim Campbell, cover by Corley.

Sometimes good police work just isn't enough, as Inspector Thomas Adye of Scotland Yard finds out when he's assigned to the Jack the Ripper case. He'll need the guidance of imprisoned madman and amoral libertine, Dr. Henry Jekyll, whose mind-splitting serum Jack might be using to commit his bloody murders. Written by Cole Haddon and illustrated by M.S. Corley, part 1 of Hyde sets in motion events that will pit London's two greatest monsters against one another. Will Adye -- and his soul -- survive intact?

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on April 27.

SUPERNATURAL NOIR

Written by various.
A hit man who kills with coincidence . . . A detective caught in a war between two worlds . . . A man whose terrible appetites hide an even darker secret . . . Dark Horse once again teams up with Hugo and Bram Stoker award-winning editor Ellen Datlow (Lovecraft Unbound) to bring you this masterful marriage of the darkness without and the darkness within. Supernatural Noir is an anthology of original tales of the dark fantastic from twenty modern masters of suspense, including Brian Evenson, Joe R. Lansdale, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Nick Mamatas, Gregory Frost, Jeffrey Ford, and many more.

336 pages, black and white, $19.99, in stores on June 15.

TARZAN: THE JESSE MARSH YEARS VOLUME 9

Writen by Gaylord DuBois, art by Jesse March.

Kreegah! Tarzan's Golden Age adventures in the heart of Africa and the lost land of Pal-ul-don continue! In addition to featuring favorite characters Muviro, Dr. MacWhirtle, Boy, Goliath, and Argus, this collection introduces both a fearsome, flying tribe of bat-worshippers and the buffalo-riding Gallugos people. New Cathne faces the threat of New Athne and the Great Swamp's thousands of Terribs, and Tarzan is caught up in the mysteries of ghosts and treasure-coated great apes. Now if only he can save Boy from a revenge-minded witch doctor before it is too late! Collects Dell's Tarzan's Jungle Annual #2 and Tarzan #44-#46, from 1953, for the first time.

240 pages, $49.99, in stores on June 1.

THE TERMINATOR: 2029-1984

Written by Zack Whedon, art by Andy MacDonald, colored by Dan Jackson, cover by Massimo Carnivale.

Before John Connor sent him back in time to save Sarah Connor from a T-800 with a grudge, Kyle Reese was just another man fighting to survive in a world overrun by Skynet and its terrifying army of killer cyborgs. Follow Kyle on his journey through the ravaged landscape of 2029, filled with T-800s, HKs, and rogue revolutionaries, to a world previously unimaginable to him -- the glittering streets of Los Angeles in 1984! Collects Terminator: 2029 #1–#3 and Terminator: 1984 #1–#3.

168 pages, $19.99, in stores on June 22.

TOY STORY: WOODY'S ROUNDUP #3 -- JESSIE

Dark Horse launches a new series of vintage-style statuettes featuring four of Toy Story's best-known characters. Featured this month is the third figure from Woody's Roundup, the sassy cowgirl Jessie.

In examining the candidates from this classic film's many characters, we agreed with Disney that Woody and his gang were best suited to the deliberately rough-hewn, somewhat distressed "syroco" style that sculptors Yoe! Studio describe as "primitive but charming."

5" tall, limited to 950 numbered pieces, packaged in its own tin box, with a pin-back button and character booklet, $49.95, in stores on May 4.